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Frederick Almgren

American mathematician

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Frederick Almgren was an American mathematician known for his work in the calculus of variations and geometric measure theory. He made significant contributions to the study of minimal surfaces, particularly in relation to the Plateau problem.1

Almgren, along with Jean Taylor, mathematically derived the Plateau conjecture. This conjecture states that when multiple soap films meet, the angles between them are either 120 degrees (for three films) or approximately 108 degrees (for four films). His work in this area was crucial for understanding energy-minimizing surfaces and has applications in various fields, including architecture.1

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